Mahindra Aerospace & Defence, an M&M group company, has signed a deal with Airbus Helicopters of Europe to make air-frame parts for Airbus’s Panther choppers.
By Baishakhi Dutta
“Airbus Helicopters has awarded a contract to Mahindra Aerostructures to make airframe parts for the AS565 MBe Panther,” a release from the M&M group said.
These parts will be originated at the Mahindra facility in Bengaluru. They will be shipped directly to the Airbus Helicopter production line in Marignane, France where they will be mingled with the rest of the airframe assembly and will form a critical part of the Panthers sold worldwide,” the release said. However the companies did not disclose the value of the deal.
Mahindra Aerostructures is the first Indian company to join hands with Airbus Helicopters as an original equipment supplier and is expected to emerge as the global single source supplier for the company for these parts.
“This work package is the first amongst a series of work packages which would embed Mahindra Group firmly in the Airbus Helicopters’ global supply chain and bind the two companies in a long-term ‘Make in India’ partnership,” the release said.
Earlier, the companies had announced to jointly bid for orders under India’s Naval Utility Helicopter programme. They are also in the process to forming a joint venture to target India’s military helicopter programmes such as the Naval Utility Helicopter, the Naval Multi-Role Helicopter and the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopter, the release said.
